The Cabinet has agreed to two measures to ease the pressure for some older people.
They have agreed to give free GP care to the over 70's and also to ease water charges for some older people.
Ministers have signed off on the free GP care plan which was put together by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Joan Burton during the recent talks on the priorities for the Government.
Under 6's will also get free GP care from later this year, which will be rolled out to all other school children over the next two years.
Also, an extra €100 a year will be added to the household benefits package from next January to help some of the country's elderly with their water charge payments.
Social Protection Minister and Tánaiste Joan Burton says that will cost around €44m a year.